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Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 10:14 pm
by donkeychomp
The door is finally in. Someone here asked to see how it is done so here goes.

First all the useless clutter was removed, door handle, rear wiper motor etc.

We removed everything from the back of the Vit including the trim panels, had a test fit and it needed cutting down on both bottom corners to clear the wheel arches. This was all done by eye but we got it right first time! It was tacked in at the sides and at the top corners, this leaves a 7cm gap at the bottom so a thin sheet of steel was welded to the bottom of the door then to the floor of the car. It's rock solid now. All that is left to do is put some fibreglass on each side where the window is as there are small gaps there.

Drove home on the M25 and no drafts, rattles or squeaks! And it is very warm inside now too.

The inside is now going to be trimmed in either thin alloy or check plate, and the roll cage will be beefed up and put back, with a spare wheel carrier mounted to it...somewhere!

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:48 pm
by twiss
Looks good man hopefully I will get a closer look soon!
Not to sure on the last pic from inside the range rover, you could have not included the steering wheel haha

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:54 pm
by donkeychomp
Did that on purpose...wondered if anyone would notice.

Got some more done today, using the ever popular CAD method. Started the fibreglass and then ran out of resin doh!

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:29 am
by Anton
That's going to look great when it's finished!

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:49 pm
by donkeychomp
Cheers matey. Hoping to get it all done tomorrow.

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 8:56 pm
by donkeychomp
All watertight. It doesn't look pretty and it doesn't need to as it'll all be hidden by an alloy plate.

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 8:59 pm
by dan_2k_uk
Good stuff. Always better without water entering through every available bit of soft top.

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:48 pm
by donkeychomp
Indeedy!

Off on wednesday to my mate's place to get the tub lined in ally. Oh and the roll cage will be going back in...but beefed up!

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:02 pm
by donkeychomp
Well, we managed to get the cage extended and in. Four mounting brackets were made out of bloody thick steel, these were bolted to the top of the original cage and the floor. The two bars were then welded to the brackets. It is rock solid, just hope I never have to test it in action!

I'll take it out this weekend and get it painted. I think it looks pretty funky..

Re: the no dosh Vitara revamp

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:20 pm
by Hodgie812
Been looking back through all the old vit threads, have you still got plans for half doors, and are they for this? Liking your speaker pods, whats next an amp and sub mounted between the rear frames?